Carrying-crate



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C. HILLYARD. CARRYING CRATE.

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CASSIUS HILLYARD, OF OIWIAIIA, NEBRASKA.

CARRYING-CRATE.

SPECIFIGATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,575, dated J une 29, 1897.

Application filed August 18, 1896. Serial No. 603,122- (NO model.)

To all whom, it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, CAssIUs E. I-IILLYARD, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain useful Improvementsin Carrying-Crates; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has relation to an improvement in carrying-crates, and relates more particularly to that class known as sectional carrying-crates. v

The object of my inventionis to provide a carrying-crate that shall be simple and cheap of construction, but which above all things shall be sufficiently strong, while not detracting from its lightness, so that the case will be able to withstand the shocks and jars incident to its use in shipping.

The class of crates to which this invention relates is composed of a series of trays which are secured one toi the other and when assembled or closed form the carrying-crate. The object of having the crate in the form of a series of superposed trays is for the sake of convenience and speed in handling and filling. lVhile this convenience is gained, the case is materially weakened by virtue of the trays not being suficiently well connected owing to the structural peculiarities of theA carrier.

To provide a crate that shall be suflicie ntly strong and at the same time light is the aim of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a carrying-crate embodying my invention. Fig. 2 shows an end view showing two of the trays as thrown back. Fig. 3 shows a broken end view of a tray, disclosing one of my reinforcing bracehinges in' position. Figs. 4 and 5 show, respectively, a top and side view of an ordinary spring-hasp as used to secure the trays, Fig. 6 representing an ordinary staple used in conjunction with the hasp to lock the sectional carrying-crate.

My invention comprises a series of trays A A, which can be arranged with bottoms or be bottomless, adapted to carry butter, eggs,

fruits,vegetables, and any other commodities. These trays are'similar in size and construction, the lowest one, A, however, being provided with a fixed bottom 2, the rest being bottomless. Upon two opposite sides and skirting one edge each tray is provided with two of my reinforcing brace-hinges, comprising, preferably, a strap-metal blank D, provided upon two opposite ends with the eyes 6, eX- tending in a like direction and provided. each with a pin-opening. These reinforcing bracehinges, as the name implies, reinforce and strengthen the trays at two edges, it being noticed that they project beyond the traysections A, as shown in Fig. 3, above and below. i

In securing the several trays I permit the lower edge of one of my brace-hinge sections to overlap the upper end of the hinge-section immediately below and then secure the two by means of an ordinary pin or rivet l0. By this means the hinges are securelyunited one to the other, any lateral shifting of the trays being prevented and counterbalanced by eight projecting hinge-sections, there being four projecting hin ge-sections upon each side to prevent any lateral displacement of the trays, which makes a sectional crate provided with my hinge stronger than a solid shippingcrate as ordinarily constructed. Any displacementfrom side to side would of course be prevented by means of the pins 3, the hinge in this direction of course being stronger.

It will be noticed that my hinge comprises a series of united similar blanks D, which when united form a continuous hinge.

In front I provide each tray with a hasp, which is an ordinary commercial commodity comprising the plate 4, to which is secured a lever 5. The trays in front are further provided with ordinary wire staples 3, which are driven into the trays by means of their bent ends l, the upper loop end serving to engage the lever 5 in holding the trays together in front. In this manner I depend for rigidity of the assembled crate-sections entirely upon the reinforcing brace-hinge, as is shown. This hinge, it being understood, is placed upon the ends of the trays,the hinge being properly secured thereto. When the tray-sections are all closed to bring the hingesections D in a straight line, as is shown in ICO Fig. l, they operate in effect as asolid metal bar in securing the two rear edges of the assembled trays.

Now, having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is-

l. In a sectional crate, the combination of a plurality of trays, each of said trays comprising a front, a back, and two end sections, a reinforcing hinge-section having two eX- tending ears, said hinge-section overlapping and being secured to said end tray-sections at the edge formed by the union with said back tray-section, in such a manner that said hinges are secured in a plane parallel with the plane of said end tray-sections, and pins movably connecting said overlapping hingesections.

2. In a sectional crate, the combination of a plurality of trays, each of said trays comprising a front, a back and two end sections, a reinforcing hinge-section having two eX- tending ears, said hinge-section overlapping and being secured to said end tray-sections at the edge formed by the union with said back tray-section, in such a manner that said hinges are secured in a plane parallel with the plane of said end tray-sections, and con- `necting-pins passing through said hinge-sec tion at right angles to the plane of said hinge.

3. In a sectional crate, the combination of a plurality of trays, each of said trays comprising a front, a back, and two end sections, a reinforcing hinge-section having two extending ears projecting in a plane coincident with the plane of said hinge-section, said hinge-section overlapping and being secured to said end tray-sections at the edge formed by the union with said back tray-section, in

such a manner that said hinges are secured in a plane parallel with the plane of said end tray-sections, and pins movably connecting said overlapping hinge-sections.

4. In a sectional crate, the combination of a plurality of trays, each of said trays comprising a front, a back, and two end sections, a reinforcing hinge-section having two eX- tending ears, said hinge-section overlapping and being secured to said end tray-sections at the edge formed by the union with said back tray-section, in such a manner that said hinges are secured in a plane parallel with the plane of said end tray-sections, pins movably connecting said overlapping hinge-sections, and a covering-panel secured to the two terminal tray-sections to form a sectional closure.

5. In a sectional crate, the combination of a plurality of trays, each of said trays comprising a front, a back, and two end sections, a reinforcing hingesection having two extending ears, said hinge-section overlapping and being secured to said end tray-sections at the edge formed by the union with said back tray-section, in such a manner that said hinges are secured in a plane parallel with the plane of said end tray-sections, pins movably connecting said overlapping hinge-sections, a covering-panel secured to the two terminal tray-sections to form a sectional closure, and a retaining device to secure said tray-sections.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CASSIUS E. IIILLYARD. Witnesses:

GEO. W. SUEs, ANE E. ELKJER-- 

